Noise in FTG Data and its Comparison With Conventional Gravity Surveys

Employing various assumptions and approximations, we propose a simple method to compare the performance of gravity gradiometer and gravity surveys in the land, marine and airborne environments. Derived relations estimate the noise on the final grid as a function of the spatial filtering applied by an interpreter. The analysis takes into account the resolution of the measurement system and survey parameters such as line spacing, speed and bandwidth. After mapping the measurements onto a grid it is straightforward to implement component transformations and apply upward continuation; both necessary for fair comparisons between the different acquisition systems. Such analysis is believed to be a useful preliminary guide for survey selection and planning.